If fire breaks out in your home, there is no time to gather valuables or make a phone call because FIRE SPREADS QUICKLY. Did you know that fire doubles in size every 9 seconds? In just two minutes, a fire can become life threatening. In five minutes, your home can be up in flames. Be prepared for a fire before it starts. Don’t ever say it won’t happen to me.
Do not hesitate to call 911!
Put ABC-type fire extinguishers in your home, learn and teach your family members how to use them
Plan and review your home escape routes with your family, practice getting out of each room. Think about getting escape ladders if your home has more than one level.
- Check that windows in your home are not nailed or painted shut.
- If you have security grating or burglar bars on windows, make sure they have a fire safety opening feature and can be easily opened from the inside.
- Close your bedroom door at night. It lessens the effect of toxic smoke and heat and helps stop the spread of flames.
- Teach your family members to stay low (crawl) to the floor, where the air is safer when getting away from smoke and fire.
- Make sure your home is insured. If you rent, consider buying renters insurance.
Buy and install smoke alarms that use 10-year, sealed lithium-ion batteries. You can call Brookhaven Fire Company to request one.
Test smoke alarms once a month and replace the alarms every 10 years.
Place smoke alarms on every level of your home (including the basement), in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, in the living room, at the top of open stairways, and at the bottom of stairways that are closed in between two walls.